SEO marketing companies have to be able to stay current with changing algorithms to keep their clients at the top of the list.

“Traditional marketing does not work in a down economy,” said Jeffrey DeArmond, co-founder and Internet marketing expert at Best Edge SEO in St. Petersburg. “The Internet is where the game is being played.”

If the sustained growth of his nearly four-year old company is an indication, he is on to something.

The company has grown from a one-man show, to a multi-million dollar business with 52 employees. In 2012, the company had $8 million in revenue, according to DeArmond.

“2012 was the most challenging year to date for successful SEO performance,” DeArmond said. “The Google Panda and Penguin updates will continue in 2013 and get even more challenging as time goes on.”

The world of search algorithms is always changing, forcing SEO companies to constantly adapt to maintain good results for their clients.

“Many of the ‘accepted’ best practices in 2012 are obsolete and must be replaced by new best practices for SEO marketing to increase results,” DeArmond said.

The changes in SEO algorithms may create more work, but in the end provide a better a product for the consumer and better results for the business.

“SEO changes for the better because Google realizes the cheaters in SEO,” said Dave Caban, president of Pure Digital Marketing in Tampa. “If Google serves bad information people won’t come back.”

Doctors Express in St. Petersburg, a client of Best Edge SEO, used more marketing techniques before switching to Best Edge about five months ago.